Safety-hook



(No Model.)

B. E. SMITH.

1 SAFETY HOOK. No. 300,810. Patented June 24,1884.

a dwzzf VI/"IZAESSLS'. iJW ENTOR Attorney UNITED STATES EDWARD HENRY SMITH, OF

RUTHERFORD, CALIFORNIA.

SAFETY-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,810, dated June 24-, 1884.

' Application filed February 8, 1884 (No model.)

To CLZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutherford, in the countyof Napaand State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to safety-hooks; and its object is to provide a hook possessing superior advantages in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness, durability, and general efficiency, and especially to provide improved means for retaining the parts of the hook in locked position, to obviate any possibility of the rope or chain becoming accidentally disengaged from the loop of the hook.

To this end my invention consists in certain improvements upon the hook shown in my former patent, No. 286,739, dated October 16, 1883, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a hook embodying my improvements and showing the parts in locked position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, showing the parts in locked. position and illustrating their operation by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line a: m, Fig. 2, and looking toward the shank of the hook. Fig. 4 is another detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 3/ y, Fig. 2, andlooking from the shank of the hook.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the shank of the hook, at one end of which is formed a ring or eye, a, which is adapted to be engaged by a swivel, clevis, or other suitable device; or these devices may be formed directly upon the shank. At the other end of the shank is formed the curved hooked portion a, which forms the greater part of the loop, and has a small recess, a provided in its end. This recess is adapted to receive a corresponding point or projection, b, on the free end of an arm, B, which forms the remainder of the loop, and has its other end provided with a T-head, b, which is retained in a corresponding recess, a, formed in the end of the shank A, at the beginning of the hook portion a, and extending in alongitudinal plane. By this arrangement the T-head of the arm B has a longitudinal movement in the recess (4 to permit of the engagement and disengagement of the projection b with the recessed, and the said T-head has also a hinge movement in the said recess a to admit of a rope or chain be ing slipped in position on the hook portion a.

The foregoing construction and arrangement of parts is substantially as comprised in my above-mentioned patent, and in this construction a coiled spring was disposed inthe recess a in rear of the T-head of the arm B, to retain the projection b in the recess a against accidental disengagement; but this coiled spring necessitated the extension of the recess a far enough in the shank to accommodate the said spring, which would have a tendency to weaken the shank. Another disadthat in case the hook should turn in such a manner that the draft from the rope or chain should come upon the end of the arm B having the T-head connecting it with the shank at the rear end of the loop the draft would act against the tension of the spring and upon the arm B, to force them back in the recess a, when the arm B would become disengaged from the hook portion a and permit the cord or chain to slip from its engagement with the hook. To obviate these disadvantages and to produce a generally more durable and efficient hook, this coiled spring will be dispensed length only equal to the projection b, by which provision all liability of weakening of the shank is obviated, and the T-head has a readier and freer hinge movement within the recess a.

To the under edge of the arm B is secured a fiat spring-plate, O, which is secured to the said arm in any suitable manner at its end nearest the projection 12, so that the other end of the spring-plate has a free movement toward and from the said arm. The under edge of the arm B is preferably provided with a shoulder, b and its inner edge is gained and flattened from the shoulder, so that the flat under edge,- b By this arrangement, when the with, and the recess a need be formed of a vantage experienced in this construction is spring-plate normally rests closely against this 7 spring-plate is in its normal position, it will not interfere with the longitudinal movement of the arm B; but when the plate is depressed from the said arm its free end will engage the hook portion a and securely look the arm in position.

To operate the spring-plate I provide acamlever, I), fulerumed in a slot, 6, in the arm B and upon a cross-pin, If, so that when the lever is depressed its end d will bear upon the spring-plate.

From the foregoin g description and annexed drawings the operation and advantages of my improvements will be readily understood. The arrangement is very simple and eflicient,

and should the draft come upon the rear end of the loop the spring locking mechanism will not be thrown out of operation.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a safety-hook, with the loop forming the hook portion, of a longitudinally-moving arm carrying a spring-plate secured to the free front end of the said arm, and adapted to engage the loop portion with its rear end, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a safety-hook comprising a loop formed of a hook portion and a longitudinally-moving arm, of a springplate secured to the inner edge of said arm, and a cam-lever fulcrumed to said arm and bearing upon the plate, substantially as and at its free front end, and the cam-lever fulcrumed in the arm and bearing upon the rear end of the spring-plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD HENRY SMITH.

Witnesses:

W. A. MAOKINDER, CHAS. E. SMITH. 

